Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Como–Harriet Streetcar Line

By K. Linzmeier, October 26, 2010

1. Como–Harriet Streetcar Line Marker

south side of marker

Inscription. For 74 years this transit railway carried passengers to downtown jobs, to University of Minnesota classes, and to picnics and concerts on the shores of Lake Harriet.

Steam passenger trains of the Minneapolis, Lyndale & Minnetonka Railway first reached this station from downtown Minneapolis in 1880. Called the "motor line," the railway was extended to Excelsior in 1882.

The Minneapolis Street Railway Company, organized by Thomas Lowry in 1875, purchased the line in 1887 and converted it to electric streetcar operation in 1891. From the Linden Hills terminus, streetcar service was extended to Lake Minnetonka in 1906, serving Morningside, Hopkins, Deephaven, Excelsior, Tonka Bay, and Big Island Park. Local "Como-Harriet" cars operated to St. Paul via Como Avenue from branches built along Xerxes and France avenues in Minneapolis.

Lowry combined his Minneapolis Street Railway Company with the St. Paul City Railway in 1893 to form the Twin City Rapid Transit Company. Before the streetcar system was abandoned on June 19, 1954, it operated 523 miles of streetcar lines in the cities and suburbs and built 1,240 cars in its own shops, including cars No. 1300 and 265.

With the help of the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board, the Minnesota Historical Society, and many friends, the Minnesota Transportation

By K. Linzmeier, October 26, 2010

2. Como–Harriet Streetcar Line Marker

north side of marker with duplicate text

Museum reopened this section of the "Como-Harriet" line in 1971 as a living memorial to a fine street railway system. The line was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 17, 1977.

Location. 44° 55.652′ N, 93° 18.574′ W. Marker is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. Marker is on West 42nd Street west of West Lake Harriet Parkway, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2330 West 42nd Street, Minneapolis MN 55410, United States of America.

No. 322 is from a 1946 order of 40 cars that were delivered by the St. Louis Car Company of St. Louis, Missouri. It arrived in December 1946 and entered service the following month. In October 1953, No. 322 was one of thirty cars sold to Public Service Coordinated Transport of Newark, New Jersey for operation in the Newark City Subway. It became their No. 3. They in turn sold it to the Greater Cleveland RTA in April 1978, where it was also No. 3. In August 1990, No. 322 was purchased by the Museum and it returned to service in 2000. source: Minnesota Streetcar Museum

By K. Linzmeier, October 26, 2010

12. Nearby Sign

1901–After the chalet depot replaced it, this 1900 depot was moved to the west shore of Lake Harriet and became the boat rental office. It was later moved again next to the refectory and the present dock and eventually was demolished. Today's depot is a replica.

Como–Harriet Streetcar Line

By K. Linzmeier, October 26, 2010

13. Como–Harriet Streetcar Line Sign

Hours of Operation

By Jet Lowe, April 20, 1990

14. Como-Harriet Streetcar Line & Trolley Car No. 265

Image provided courtesy of the Historic American Engineering Record.

By K. Linzmeier, September 1, 2012

15. Excelsior Streetcar 1239

Streetcar 1239, a gate car built in 1907, is located in Excelsior. As noted in the inscription, the railway was extended to Excelsior in 1882.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on December 9, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,204 times since then and 9 times this year. This page was the Marker of the Week May 27, 2012. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 9, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on June 16, 2012, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 10, 11. submitted on September 2, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 12, 13. submitted on December 9, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 14. submitted on May 29, 2012. 15. submitted on September 17, 2012, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.